My paternal grandfather was a very knowledgeable ayurvedic practitioner, and I inherited the interest and the practice of this alternative medicine in my lifestyle or when there's any health treatment needed... so I really love to share a little of this ancient, vast, wise science. Ayurvedic Medicine, is the traditional medicine of India, which originated over 5,000 years ago. Ayurveda focuses on re-establishing balance in the body through diet, lifestyle, exercise, and body cleansing, and on the health of the mind, body, and spirit. Ayurveda means in Sanskrit LIFE KNOWLEDGE and it has its historical roots in the Indian subcontinent - it began with the transmission of medical knowledge from the Gods to sages and then to physicians. The SUSHRUTA SAMHITA (an ancient sanskrit text on medicine, considered to be one of the earliest major works related to the detailed study of medicine and surgery, written by Sushruta) narrates how DHANVANTARI (god of ayurveda) incarnated himself as Divodāsa, a mythical king of Varanasi, who then taught medicine to a group of wise physicians, including Sushruta himself. Ayurveda originated in India as an oral tradition. Some assert that Ayurveda originated in prehistoric times, and that some of the concepts of Ayurveda have been discovered since the times of Indus Valley civilization (c 7500–1300 BCE). An ayurvedic lifestyle includes eating habits, diet, cleansing and detoxification, yoga, meditation, exercise, massage, herbal medicine.
According to Ayurveda, everything is composed of five elements: air, water, fire, earth, and space. These elements combine to form the three doshas: vata, kapha, and pitta - or metabolic types. Ayurvedic doctors regard physical existence, mental existence, and personality as a unit, with each element being able to influence the others. Ayurveda has eight ways to diagnose illness, called NADI (pulse), MOOTRA (urine, stool), Jihva (tongue), SHABDA (speech), SPARSHA (touch), DRUK (vision), and AAKRUTI (appearance). Ayurvedic practitioners approach diagnosis by using the five senses. Ayurveda follows the concept of DINACHARYA (daily routine) which says that natural cycles like waking, sleeping, working, meditation... are important for health. According to some sources, up to 80% of people in India use some form of traditional medicine, which includes Ayurveda.
Music is an age-old part of Ayurveda, this holistic science which promotes a happy and healthy lifestyle. From time immemorial, music has been a part of Indian culture. The doshas Vata, Pitta and Kapha can be balanced effectively using music therapy.